Manchester United could be striking at the right time to bring in prolific attacker Bryan Mbeumo.
Recruitment has been Manchester United’s biggest flaw over the years. Along with the mixed success of the expensive transfer deals, the many missed opportunities have been painful too.
One club who got it right were rivals Liverpool, who took a gamble to sign Mohamed Salah from Roma in 2017, and he has been the key to their subsequent success, haunting United along the way.
Manchester United’s current target has been compared to Salah, even tipped as his replacement.
Photo by Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Offside via Getty Images
Photo by Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Offside via Getty Images
Bryan Mbeumo linked to Manchester United
Manchester United held talks with Bryan Mbeumo’s representatives a week ago. Now he has decided he wants the move.
The Athletic claim Mbeumo has decided he wants to join Manchester United instead of Arsenal and Newcastle United.
United will now step up talks with Brentford, but a deal will be difficult with the Premier League club demanding a high fee.
Mbeumo compared to Mohamed Salah
Bryan Mbeumo is 25, the same age Mohamed Salah was when he joined Liverpool in 2017.
More United News
Last season Mbeumo scored 20 goals in the Premier League in 38 appearances, drawing plaudits, with Gary Neville naming him in his ‘team of the season’.
Former Premier League player Jason Cundy told TalkSPORT last season that he regarded Mbeumo as a ‘mini Salah’, and Jamie Carragher made the comparison too.
Speaking to Sky Sports, he tipped the Cameroon forward as a potential replacement for Salah.
He explained: “I think of my old club with the situation regarding Mohamed Salah, a left-footed player on the right side, who can fit the bill?
“He [Mbeumo] is someone whose name that always crops up because of his ability and the club he is at. The things they look at are probably similar to Liverpool. (I’m a) Huge fan of his.”
Liverpool have been able to keep Salah beyond this season, and are not in the market for an expensive replacement, opening the door for Manchester United to get ahead.
Data from Sofascore illustrates where Mbeumo has done the most of his damage from, and where he will add to United’s attack.
Bryan Mbeumo sofascore
.
A deal is not done yet, with Manchester United yet to agree terms with Brentford, and money has to be spent in a measured manner this summer.
But if Mbeumo can have a Salah-like impact on Manchester United, the forward will be worth every single penny.